Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-02-10
gron Comntp Aeai5ter
A Great Brotherhood.

The Oldest, tie largest and most in
Huential beneficiary society in the
United States, with strictly national
Jurisdiction, is the knights of Honor.
1t was first organized in June, 1873, by
band of seventeen young men, in the
city of Louisville, Ly. 1t is ostensibly
fraternity, but has beneficiary feat
ure which provides that the sum of
100000 shall be paid to the family of
every beneficiary member W no dies in
good standing In the order.
Its objects as set forth by the Supreme
Lodge and as practiced by the mem
bers, are: to unite fraternally accept
able men of every profession, business
or occupation; to give all moral and
material aid in its power to members
of the order; to encourage each other in
business; to assist each other in obtain
ing employment; to promote benevo-
lence and charity; to provide for the
relief of sick and distressed members;
to ameliorate the condition of human
ity in every possible manner.
The growth of this order has been
phenomenal. In thirteen years it has
extended from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf,
and has established it's Subordinate
Lodges in every State and Territory in
the Union. Grand Lodges have been
organized in thirty-five of the States
and in the District of Columbia. There
are 1900 Subordinate Lodges under the
jurisdiction of the respective Grand
Lodges, which embrace a membership
of over l25, 900.
The benefit fund is derived from as
sessments levied upon the whole MEM
bersl.ip, and at such times as it is re-
qnired to pay death benefits. The
benefit fund is so managed that every
dollar paid by the members goes out to
beneficiaries without the loss of single
cent for its disbursement. So carefully
and economically are the affairs of this
order managed, that in the thirteen
and halt years of its existance, $50, 600
10000 have been collected and paid to
widows and orphans at an expense of
less than two per cent.
Aside from this disbursement of 500
OOO,OO0OO to beneficiaries, vast sums
have been paid by the local Lodges in
the way of relief to sick members and
their families. The fraternaI influence
es of the order practiced through the
Lodges have workd great benefit to
individuals and communities. Unfort-
innate ones have found a helping hand
extended to them; others upon whom
the hand of affiiction has been laid,
have been comforted and have felt the
sweet influences of brotherly love. So
modestly and unostentatiously has this
been done that the world at large has
known but little of it; and so carefully
has the mantle of love and charity been
spread, that the misfortunes of many
have been screened from the gaze of a
curious world, and relief came to the
distressed like mamma to the Israelites
in the wilderness, falling as gently as
the dew of Herman.
This order is one of the grandest
schemes of charity and benevolence
ever conceived. 1t invites every man
who desires to aid in good cause and
at the same time benefit himself and
his own family, at a cost so small that
no one is too poor to engage in it, to
join this great order of progress and
benevolence. A number of our promi-
nent citizens are members of this fra
ternity, and will be pleased to give in
formation to any desiring better
knowledge of the plans, purposes and
advantages of the knights of Honor.